When my eyes finally opened again, the ceiling above me was pale white, almost too bright for my tired vision. For a moment, I couldn’t place where I was. My head throbbed violently, each beat like a hammer striking deep inside my skull. My body felt heavy, and when I tried to move, I felt the pull of tubes across my arms and chest.
I groaned softly, shifting, trying to sit up despite the protest of every muscle in my body. That was when the door swung open, and soft, hurried footsteps entered the room.
“Kael!” Mia’s voice rushed out, filled with relief. She came straight to my side, her hands gently pushing me back down. “Don’t move. Please, relax yourself. You can’t stand up presently.”
I blinked at her, struggling to focus through the haze of pain. “Where… where are we?”
She smoothe
